The Painting Session 1942

Henri Matisse made this painting of a painting session with oils, brushes, and a canvas, probably in his studio where he spent most of his time. It’s a world of ochres, yellows, and reds, contained by a muted green. I can imagine him, perched in front of the easel, squinting at the model, then back at the canvas, trying to capture something elusive about the scene before him. I wonder what he was thinking as he applied those strokes, and how many times he changed his mind? Notice how the artist figure and model blend into each other, as if the process of painting flattens and abstracts everything. The red flower shapes on the model’s skirt almost seem to float, like Matisse is already thinking about his cut-outs here. And those simple outlines—they’re like a shorthand, a quick way of mapping out a space. I get the sense he is both looking and remembering! Matisse was always looking at other artists. His dialogue with them helped him clarify his thoughts and his own approaches to painting. Like a conversation between friends, or a jam session where everyone’s riffing off each other.